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Performance Management

Ohio State and the Office of Administration and Planning are committed to fostering a high-performance work culture.  To support these efforts, the performance management process encourages communication between a supervisor and staff member throughout the year.

The Buckeye Performance tool provides a method for setting performance expectations and tracking a staff member’s progress towards those expectations. It should be used to enter and track annual goals and to perform end-of-year performance evaluations using the Buckeye Performance rating scale.

Buckeye Performance Tool     Job Aid

Overview

I. Timeline
  • July - September - Window opens for non-bargaining unit staff to enter their goals into the performance management tool.
  • November to February – At least one check-in meeting should be held during this time frame and continuous feedback throughout the year is encouraged. Notes of such meetings must be entered into the performance management tool.
  • By mid-May – Employees complete their self-review (if applicable).
  • Mid-May to early June – Supervisors meet with employees to review performance and set goals (if applicable) for the upcoming year.
  • Early June to mid-June – Final performance evaluations and new goals (if applicable) should be entered into the Buckeye Performance tool and ratings provided to Human Resources to determine pay increases.

Please note: Staff should touch base with their managers to determine how each unit will integrate the tool.

II. Annual Goals and Competencies
  • All staff should develop and document at least three (3) SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) or performance expectations with their supervisor each performance cycle
  • Each staff member is also encouraged to develop at least one professional development goal for the year.
  • Goals should be tied to the mission, vision and values of each business unit.
  • It is important that supervisors provide regular, on-going feedback throughout the year to staff regarding the progress they are making towards their goals.
III. Self-Evaluation
  • All staff are encouraged to submit an annual self-evaluation in the performance management tool.
  • This is the staff member’s opportunity to summarize their accomplishments over the past year.
  • The manager will review the self-evaluation with the employee and discuss their thoughts on the staff member’s performance. 
 IV. Year-End Performance Review
  • During the annual year-end performance review meeting, supervisors will go over the performance ratings with each staff member.
  • Supervisors should also provide a written summary of the staff member’s overall performance.
  • Each staff member will have the opportunity to provide comments related to their performance ratings.
  • During this discussion, goals should be reviewed and agreed upon.
  • Both the supervisor and the staff member must sign off on the completed evaluation.